atmosphere
A mixture of nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide, among other gases, that surround the Earth. The atmosphere has four layers that are determined by temperatures troposphere (closest), stratosphere, mesosphere and thermosphere (farthest).

Lists some of the special qualities certain plants have which may make them more attractive as garden selections.

Please note that the attribute "deer resistant" only indicates those plants which are least likely to be damaged by deer. Selection of food plants by deer can vary greatly between different regions and at various times of year. Plants unappealing to deer at one time may seem more appealing during times of food scarcity.

"Drought tolerant" refers to established plants. Many plants require sufficient moisture to become established but can tolerate drought later in the season.

bacteria
(singular: bacterium): single-celled, microscopically small organisms in the Monera kingdom. A bacterial cell differs from the cells of higher organisms in that it is simpler (i.e., lacks most of the internal structures) and has no distinct (i.e., membrane-bound) nucleus. There are thousands of species of bacteria, but they occur in only three different shapes: spherical, rodlike, or curved. Some bacteria cause diseases, while others are necessary to good health (e.g., some intestinal bacteria). They can be found in all ecosystems.

biowall
A mixture of nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide, among other gases, that surround the Earth. The atmosphere has four layers that are determined by temperatures troposphere (closest), stratosphere, mesosphere and thermosphere (farthest).

Lists the time of year the plant flowers. Due to the variability of bloom time across the country and in different locations this is given by season instead of by month. There may be some yearly shifts in bloom times due to variations in the weather.

Lists some areas of concern for the selected plant. These are given where known, however, the absence of any listed caution does not indicate that the plant is necessarily trouble free.

The caution "can be toxic" indicates that part or all of the plant may be toxic to humans or animals if eaten. Again, this is only listed for those plants where this information is known and the absence of this caution does not indicate that any plant is safe for consumption.

The caution "ensure not wild collected" is listed for certain plants which have a history of being wild collected, are considered species at risk in some or all of their native range, or which are difficult and time-consuming to propagate (so more likely to be wild collected for sale). If purchasing these plants please take extra care to ensure that they are nursery propagated and not collected from the wild.

The caution "need both male and female plants" refers to plants which have male and female flowers on different plants so that both are needed for the production of fruit.

Please be careful with plants listed as "aggressive spreader" if your garden is adjacent to any natural areas to prevent their spread to and invasion of these areas. Grow them in contained areas and use root guards and dead-heading to prevent their spread through root or seed.

chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Organic compounds made up of atoms of carbon, chlorine and fluorine. Gaseous CFCs can deplete the ozone layer when they rise into the stratosphere, get broken down by ultraviolet radiation and then release chlorine atoms that react with ozone molecules.

a major category in the classification of plants, animals, and other organisms, more specific than the family and more general than the species; a group of species that are more closely related to one another than to other species. See “taxonomy.”

heat island effect
When heat from a large urban area concentrates in a “dome” shape because of the way pollution and physical structures, such as tall buildings and pavement, have modified the land’s surface.

Gives the approximate height of the plant at full size. Please note that this can vary according to the suitability of the site. Some native plants can reach greater heights in a garden situation than in the wild due to less competition and more available nutrients.

Indicates the amount of sunlight the plant should ideally receive. Some plants thrive in a range of light situations while others require more specific conditions. Consult their habitat description for a better idea of the kinds of sites they prefer.

Sun indicates the plant prefers a location which receives direct sun for most of the day or approximately 6 hours or more of direct sun.

Partial shade can indicate an area with only filtered sunlight most of the day or one which receives direct sun for only 2 to 4 hours of the day.

Full shade indicates an area which receives less than 2 hours of direct sun each day.

Lists all Canadian provinces and territories for which the plant is considered a native component of the flora. Please note that the listing of a plant as native to a particular province does not necessarily indicate that the plant is native to all areas of that province. To find out if a particular plant is native to your local area please consult regional native plant guides or contact local naturalist groups, horticultural groups or native plant societies. We encourage the use of plants native to your specific area.

In some cases a qualifier has been added to indicate the limitations of a plants range within a province. For example, sAB would indicate the plant is found only in the southern part of Alberta.

nitrous oxide (N2O)
A colourless, non-flammable gas with a sweetish odour, used as an anesthetic and commonly known as laughing gas. Major sources of nitrous oxide include soil cultivation practices, especially the use of commercial and organic fertilizers, as well as fossil fuel combustion.

pack ice
a floating mass of ice that forms in the Earth’s polar oceans; the mass expands to cover a greater area in winter and contracts in summer. The pack ice of the Northern Hemisphere covers an average area of more than 10 million km2.

taiga
sparsely treed belt of subarctic forest in the Northern Hemisphere that blends into the tundra in the north and the boreal forest in the south. In Canada the taiga extends from the coast of Labrador to the Mackenzie Delta.

vascular plants
seed plants, such as flowering trees, shrubs, herbs, and the conifers, as well as other plants, like the ferns and horsetails that reproduce by spores. All of these have specialized conducting cells organized as vascular tissues in their roots, stems, and leaves. They conduct water and inorganic nutrients as well as food made by green cells throughout the plant. These tissues allow vascular plants to grow to considerable size.

Gives the possible use of the plant by various forms of wildlife. This information is gathered from a wide variety of sources and, therefore, the appeal to various wildlife will vary among the plants listed.

Gives the hardiness zone listing for each plant where available. This information is gathered from a variety of different sources and is meant only as a rough guide. Each garden is different and many factors can affect the survival of a plant. Therefore, use this field for reference only and refer to your local supplier for information on the plants hardiness in your area. Or better yet, choose plants native to your local area to be sure of their ability to thrive in the local climate.